Every hour a truck sits waiting to be loaded or unloaded is an hour not spent moving freight, and that downtime has serious consequences for both drivers and the broader supply chain. Detention time, which typically refers to delays that extend beyond two hours at shipper or receiver facilities, continues to be one of the most persistent inefficiencies in the trucking industry. Despite technological advances and regulatory oversight, this issue still drains billions of dollars annually, increases crash risk, and diminishes driver job satisfaction.
This article presents a comprehensive look at driver detention from 2018 to 2025 by comparing data and insights from leading sources: the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), FreightWaves, Transport Topics, TruckingInfo, and DAT Freight & Analytics.
What Is Driver Detention?
Driver detention occurs when a commercial truck driver is forced to wait at a customer facility longer than the standard two-hour “free time” window to load or unload freight. For long-haul drivers who are paid by the mile, this waiting period often goes unpaid, leading to a direct loss of income and productivity.
Although it may seem like a minor inconvenience on a load-by-load basis, driver detention is a widespread, recurring issue that undermines efficiency across the entire freight network.
Industry-Wide Statistics and Insights
To understand the scope of the problem, we examined data points from eight respected organizations. Here are the most significant findings, summarized across several critical categories:
1. Detention Frequency and Duration
ATRI reported a 27.4% increase in six-hour-or-more delays from 2014 to 2018. As of 2023, approximately 39% of deliveries still experienced detention.
FMCSA’s own findings show that 10% of all stops involved detention, with an average of 3.4 hours of total dwell time.
GAO indicated that nearly 59% of drivers experienced detention in the previous two weeks.
OOIDA’s 2023 survey found that 72% of owner-operators and small fleet drivers waited over two hours weekly.
FreightWaves echoed these concerns, noting that 3–5 hour waits are still common.
2. Financial Impact
According to ATRI, detention resulted in an annual economic loss of $15.1 billion, including $11.5 billion in lost productivity and $3.6 billion in added expenses. That equates to about $11,000–$19,000 lost per driver per year.
FMCSA and the DOT Office of Inspector General (OIG) estimated that driver wage losses due to detention range between $1.1 billion and $1.3 billion annually.
OOIDA members reported losing entire loads, worth up to $4,000, because of delays at previous stops.
FreightWaves reported that detention costs more than $500 per trailer per week, which adds up to $390,000 annually for a small fleet of 15 trailers.
DAT noted that fewer than 50% of billed detention charges are actually paid by shippers.
3. Compensation Gaps
While most fleets claim to offer detention pay, ATRI found that the average rate charged to shippers is about $63 per hour, still below the average operating cost of $66.65 per hour. Drivers typically receive only a portion of this amount.
FMCSA confirmed that most detention time (especially the first two hours) goes unpaid, and there’s no federal requirement to compensate drivers.
OOIDA revealed that 17% of drivers never receive any detention pay. Of those who always request it, 9% say they never actually receive payment.
DAT showed that typical detention fees range from $30–$50 per hour and are inconsistently paid. Many drivers go uncompensated entirely due to weak contract enforcement.
4. Safety and Regulatory Compliance
Detention directly correlates with unsafe driving behaviors. ATRI found that drivers tend to speed 14.6% more after experiencing detention.
FMCSA/OIG studies showed that every 15-minute increase in dwell time increases crash risk by 6.2%.
GAO reported that 80% of drivers affected by detention experienced difficulty complying with Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations.
OOIDA emphasized that delayed drivers are often forced to choose between violating HOS rules or missing appointments, both of which can compromise safety.
5. Industry Solutions and Recommendations
The problem of driver detention has drawn significant attention from both industry and government. While there's no single fix, a number of potential solutions have been proposed and partially implemented across the sector:
Data Transparency: Using ELD and GPS data to track dwell times and publicly identify problem facilities.
Drop-and-Hook Programs: Reducing wait times by allowing drivers to drop off trailers and pick up loaded ones.
Better Scheduling: Implementing tighter appointment systems and flexible delivery windows.
Shipper Accountability: Freight brokers and carriers increasingly charge higher rates or avoid shippers known for frequent delays.
Legislative Action: Advocacy groups like OOIDA support repealing the FLSA exemption for truckers, which would allow for hourly or overtime pay and encourage quicker turnarounds.
Recognition Programs: Highlighting “Shippers of Choice” that consistently provide quick turnaround and quality facilities.
Final Thoughts
Driver detention is not just a trucking problem—it’s a supply chain problem. With estimates of billions in annual losses, increased crash risks, and deteriorating driver satisfaction, it’s clear that the current approach to loading and unloading needs systemic reform.
Progress is being made. More fleets are tracking wait times, some shippers are improving scheduling practices, and the federal government has begun to study the issue in depth. But the problem won’t be solved until detention is recognized not as an unavoidable inconvenience, but as a solvable inefficiency.
Abl Trucking understands the issues in the trucking industry, and we strive to do our best at taking care of our drivers and being fair and honest with everyone involved.
Citations:
American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI)
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA)
